Monica Preston of Team Sponsor Spy Coast and Preston; riders Ashley Vogel, Shane Sweetnam and Lindsey Tomeu; Lisa Lourie of Team Sponsor Spy Coast and Preston; and Terri Kane of Corporate Sponsor Diamante Dressage at the award ceremony. PHOTO BY SPORTFOT
More Than $1 Million Given Away At 2021 Great Charity Challenge What is usually the biggest night of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival, the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, pivoted to a blend of in-person competition for riders and virtual celebrations for charities and supporters on Saturday, Feb. 6. Those supporters cheered as equestrians and their mounts, representing local nonprofit organizations, competed for a share of more than $1 million in prize money. The GCC is an exciting show jumping event that combines equestrian sports and philanthropy. Three riders made up each of the 23 pro-am combinations, which are paired with Palm Beach County charities. Each team was made up of junior and amateur riders competing side-by-side with top professionals.
Lindsey Tomeu with Bonapart. PHOTO BY SPORTFOT
In addition to the 23 charities that were part of the competition, an additional 24 nonprofits received funding through grants that were awarded leading up to the event.“Seeing the level of need in our community and knowing how difficult the past year has been, we realized that we couldn’t turn our backs on our most vulnerable neighbors,” GCC co-founder Mark Bellissimo said. A moment of silence at the beginning of the event paid recognition to all of those lost to the pandemic over the past year. The event featured riders dressed up in costumes and horses adorned to match them, paying recognition to the many heroes who stepped up during the pandemic, as well as those who have inspired people to push beyond their own limits and “dream bigger.” wellington the magazine | march 2021 57